On Friday September 23, Ireland will become a cultural playground where everyone is invited to seek out culture around every corner.

This will mark the 17th year of Culture Night - an annual all-island public event that celebrates culture, creativity, and the arts. Kerry will be host to a programme of events on the night that offers something for everyone and invites everyone, everywhere, on one night to discover and celebrate all that our culture is today.

This year’s programme will have a greater focus on late night events scheduled after 9pm through additional support by the Arts Council. Street spectacles, fire shows, and gigs will all form part of the programme.

Cathaoirleach of Kerry, Councillor John Francis Flynn, shared his thoughts as he launched Culture Night Kerry outside Library Place in Killorglin.

“Kerry is lucky to have enough talent and culture to fill every night of the year with colour and celebration. Culture Night is a highlight of the calendar for arts in Kerry and I am grateful to all the artists, community groups, theatres, and institutions that come together on the night to shine a light on all that the Kingdom has to offer. I look forward to Friday September 23 and hope to see you there.”

Library Place houses Kerry’s Collection of 250 artworks by Pauline Bewick. A former ambassador for Culture Night, Bewick’s legacy and her art will be celebrated with a late opening at Library Place on the night.

Throughout Ireland, doors to cultural institutions such as museums, theatres and arts centres will open late. Special events are programmed at participating locations, and, thanks to the continued support of the Arts Council and Kerry County Council, all activities are free of charge.

In Tralee experience places such as Collis Sandes House like never before with ‘Build’ – an art workshop by Me and the Moon which invites children to build how they see their town’s future. Later in the evening, the halls of Collis Sandes House will come alive with music by string students of Sempre Music Academy as they accompany a special historical tour of the house.

Culture Night has evolved to become a collaborative experience with an emphasis on opening doors, welcoming people into new spaces and the discovery of different experiences.

Niamh O’Sullivan, Acting Director of Services for Economic and Community Development at Kerry County Council, welcomed the launch of Culture Night in Kerry.

“Culture Night showcases the wealth of talent that exists throughout the county. It is an opportunity to connect people to cultural activities and to invite people to celebrate the very best of our culture.”

The courtyard in Killarney House and Garden will be the setting of a not to be missed performance of Guido’s Impossible Circus by the Fanzinis. Followed by a late-night look at the books with a tour of the Killarney House Library – not usually accessible to the public.

An open call for applications for Culture Night Kerry welcomed proposals for events from artists, venues, and community groups earlier this summer. Responses to the open call created this year’s programme for Culture Night Kerry.

“Through an open call we were able to ensure that the talent of an artist could be seen in their town, that the building with a story could stay open late for its neighbours, and that community groups could celebrate their work in their local area," Hannah Pinckheard, Assistant Arts Officer for Kerry County Council, commented.

"We are grateful to those who took the time to contribute and look forward to sharing the programme with everyone.”

For further information about Culture Night please visit www.culturenight.ie.

An e-brochure detailing all events in Kerry will be available in September from the Arts Office website.